Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20080330.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Hosea: God's BALANCE Of Judging And Blessing His People
Part XVII: Learning The Importance Of Heeding Versus Disobeying The Lord
(Hosea 14:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. Romans 15:4 ESV informs us Christians that the Old Testament was written down for our learning, "that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
    2. One passage in its context reveals this truth in great power, the passage of Hosea 14:1-9 (as follows):
  2. Learning The Importance Of Heeding Versus Disobeying The Lord, Hosea 14:1-9.
    1. Much of Hosea 1:1-13:16 reveals God's warnings of impending judgment upon His people for their sin against Him. Indeed, in Hosea 13:7-8, 16b alone, we learned God would act like a vicious lion, a lurking leopard and an angry bear toward His people in judgment upon them for their sin, and Israel would suffer dreadful atrocities at the hands of the instruments of God's judgment in the form of invading Assyrians!
    2. After the long, heavy dose of pronouncements of severe divine judgment in the book, Hosea 14:1-8 offers a wonderful reprieve from God's wrath, and Hosea 14:9 gives a concluding lesson for future generations:
      1. In contrast of Hosea 13, Hosea chapter 14, verses 1-3 opens with an appeal for Israel to repent:
        1. Since Israel had fallen in judgment due to her sin, God urged her to repent from her idols, Hos. 14:1.
        2. This appeal would not be heeded in Hosea's time, but in a later generation just before the messianic kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Hosea 3:5; 5:15b-6:3; Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1406.
        3. Israel's repentance would involve confession of sin as the people would say, "Forgive all our sins" that they might praise God and "offer the fruit of our lips," Hosea 14:2 NIV; Ibid. (Hebrews 13:15)
        4. Then the people of Israel would claim that salvation could not come from Assyrian treaty or Egypt, the land to which she had turned for horses to build up her military in violation of Deuteronomy 17:16 and in unbelief in God; Israel would acknowledge that the idols she had made were not her God, but that the Lord God showed mercy even the fatherless in Israel! (Hosea 14:3; Ibid.)
      2. Were Israel to repent, a repentance she would produce in the latter days at the start of Christ's kingdom, God's blessings would abound in gentle nurture opposite the judgments of Hosea 13, cf. Hosea 14:4-8:
        1. In response to her repentance, God promised to heal and freely love Israel, for His judgment fury would have been turned away from her as the result of her repentance, Hosea 14:4.
        2. God would no longer be like an attack animal as in Hos. 13:7-8, but like a nurturing morning dew, Hos. 14:5a: Israel would blossom like a lily famous for its beauty (Hos. 14:5b; S. of Sol. 2:2; Ibid.), she would send forth her roots like a cedar tree of Lebanon noted for its size and fragrance ( Hos. 14:5c-6a,c; Ibid.) and be like an olive tree distinguished as a luxuriant tree (Hos. 14:6b; Ibid.).
        3. Israel would live under God's protective shadow and once again raise grain, and blossom as the vine with the renown of Israel being like the famed wine of Lebanon, Hosea 14:7; Ibid.
        4. For such divine blessings Ephraim, the personification of Israel, would say, "What have I to do any more with idols?" With the Lord as her God, she would realize she was like a green pine tree in its beauty, fragrance and luxury, and that her blessings came from God, Hosea 14:8.
      3. Thus, in view of all the trauma Israel would suffer in judgment predicted in Hosea chapters 1-13, and in view of her restoration upon repentance, Hosea 14:9 offered a final suggestion for later generations:
        1. A wise and prudent person would learn a lesson from the prophecies of Hosea, Hosea 14:9a.
        2. That lesson involves three truths: (1) first, the ways of the Lord are right, Hosea 14:9b; (2) second, the just will walk in God's ways, Hosea 14:9c; (3) third, transgressors will stumble in God's ways as they will stumble in harm due to God's discipline for disobeying Him, Hos. 14:9d; Ibid.
        3. Thus, all future generations who read Hosea's prophecy and know how surely they had come to pass must learn to be highly motivated to obey God to avoid His severe discipline and be greatly blessed!
Lesson: From reading Hosea, the WISE in future generations who will have witnessed how true had been the judgments predicted in it will realize the MASSIVELY SHARP CONTRASTS of JUDGMENT and BLESSING that will thus FOLLOW their OWN choices either to DISOBEY OR to OBEY GOD!

Application: In view of the HUGE STAKES involved, may we be HIGHLY motivated to OBEY GOD!